OUR VIEW: Search within ourselves for true meaning of this day

Wednesday

Dec 25, 2013 at 3:15 AM

On this blessed day, Christians around the world celebrate the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ. In the weeks and months ahead we should all take time to reflect on the spirituality that is so important every day to sustain our world.

On this blessed day, Christians around the world celebrate the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ. In the weeks and months ahead we should all take time to reflect on the spirituality that is so important every day to sustain our world.

The real message of this day too often is overshadowed by minutiae that overwhelm even the most faithful of Christ's followers. The preparations, parties and myriad tasks that push us through what is supposed to be a season of peace and joy can be a smokescreen to what it's really all about.

This makes delivering — and perpetuating — the message even more important.

Earlier this month, two major events occurred that involved two of our world's most spiritual leaders.

ä On Dec. 5, Nelson Mandela, who fought oppression even from a prison cell, died at 95.

ä On Dec. 11, Pope Francis was declared Person of the Year by Time magazine.

Let's put religious dogma aside for the moment and consider these two leaders from a purely humanitarian standpoint.

Both men stand for similar values. Peace. Righteousness. Forgiveness.

Pope Francis has been credited for drawing people back to the church with an attitude that transcends his own faith. His warnings against being obsessed with "small-minded rules," emphasizing compassion over condemnation in dealing with touchy topics like abortion, gays and contraception, is a message not only for Roman Catholics, but for all people.

Mandela, meanwhile, spent 27 years in prison because he believed in racial justice for all people. After serving as South Africa's first black president, he declined a second term and spent much of his time doing charitable work in combating poverty and HIV/AIDS.

Said Makaziwe Mandela in an interview following her father's death: "None of us are born hating another — we are taught to hate and if you can teach a human being to hate, you can also teach a human being to love, to embrace and to forgive."